Loris Karius: Liverpool take priority over Olympic Games

July 14,2016 13:13

Loris Karius says he has given up a chance to appear at the Olympic Games so he can fight to become Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper. Former Germany under-21 international Karius, who joined the club from Mainz in May, said he has sacrificed his ...and more »

Â ByÂ Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent

Steve Nicol has optimism with the re-signing of Jurgen Klopp as manager of Liverpool. Loris Karius says he has given up a chance to appear at the Olympic Games so he can fight to become Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper.Former Germany under-21 international Karius, who joined the club from Mainz in May, said he has sacrificed his spot at the football tournament in Rio, which takes place from Aug. 3 to 20, in order to impress manager Jurgen Klopp.Playing at the Olympics would have seen the 23-year-old miss Liverpool's preseason tour to the United States as well as the first two 2016-17 Premier League games away at Arsenal and Burnley.Karius said in the Liverpool Echo: "I spoke with the manager and we said that it didn't make sense for me to go to the Olympics as I would miss the first two league games of the season and of course I want to play in them."We agreed together I wouldn't be going [to Rio]. First I spoke with Jurgen and then together we spoke with the German people who wanted me to go. The priority is the club. It's more important that I am available for the start of the season."The shot-stopper is competing with Simon Mignolet for a starting berth at Anfield this season.Loris Karius has said he joined Liverpool in the belief he could become the club's starting goalkeeper.Mignolet has been Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper for the past three seasons but drew criticism from many last campaign due to a number costly mistakes.Karius says he would not have made the move to Merseyside if he did not believe he could become the club's new No. 1."Of course I know that a club like this has more competition," he continued. "It's a bigger club and better players means more competition."I am not scared or anything. If I was, I wouldn't have come here. I have a good feeling. I wouldn't come here just to sit on the bench. That doesn't make sense for me."I'm not a keeper who hasn't shown his ability. I know I am a good goalkeeper and I've shown that a lot. I could have stayed at Mainz and played there. If I wasn't sure I could come and play here this season, I wouldn't have done it."Karius added: "I just need to produce my best and show what I can do. The manager has seen a good goalkeeper in me otherwise he wouldn't have brought me here."I need to settle in, get to know all the players and get communication going with all of the defence. There's a lot of preseason games for me to show my qualities and then we will see."Glenn is ESPN FC's Liverpool correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter @GlennPrice94.